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ExxonMobil Cycling Team 2005

Bicycle Riding Safety Group Riding and Pacelines. ExxonMobil Cycling Team 2005. Before we get on the bicycle. Safety Equipment Ready? Helmet inspected & on your head Have your i.d. Bicycle Ready? Tires inflated & inspected Quick releases tight Brakes working Rider ready?

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ExxonMobil Cycling Team 2005

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  1. Bicycle Riding Safety Group Riding and Pacelines ExxonMobil Cycling Team 2005

  2. Before we get on the bicycle.... • Safety Equipment Ready? • Helmet inspected & on your head • Have your i.d. • Bicycle Ready? • Tires inflated & inspected • Quick releases tight • Brakes working • Rider ready? • Obey traffic laws • Be assertive & confident • Don’t impede traffic • No headphones • No talking on the cell phone

  3. Group Riding Basics • Why ride in a group? • Ride farther, faster • Use less energy- 30% savings! • Allows time to recuperate • More visible to motorists • Camaraderie! • Group riding can also be dangerous! • Many riders, various abilities, potential for contact • Limited line of sight for riders in the pack • A few guidelines can increase the safety

  4. Riding in a Group • #1 Rule- Be predictable “Hold your line” • Constant direction • Ride a straight line • Hold a constant radius when turning • Stay off the aerobars Parallel lines never cross! • Constant speed • Stay off your brakes unless absolutely necessary

  5. Riding in a Group • #2 Rule: Ride defensively • It may be the front rider’s fault, but the rider behind usually goes down first! Protect your front wheel • Never overlap wheels Protect your handlebars • Keep your elbows “in” • Stay off the aerobars when in a group • You can not ride as straight of a line • You can not react to obstacles as fast

  6. Riding in a Group • #3. Be the eyes & ears for those behind • Call out when slowing, stopping, or turning • Communicate Road Hazards • Holes, water, cars, bumps, other riders, etc. • Call: “OBSTACLE, LOCATION” GLASS RIGHT!

  7. Group Riding- Pacelines! • What is a paceline? • An organized, efficient group, designed to: • Maximize benefits of the group but.... It also increases group’s inherent hazards Why? • Riders closer together • Moving faster

  8. Group Riding- Pacelines! • Safepaceline guidelines • Hold your line- be steady and predictable! • Riders behind you are depending on your line • Focus several riders ahead • Do not stare at the tire in front of you • You may see obstacles that the leaders don’t call • Watch for other riders’ mistakes • Follow only as close as you feel comfortable • Try to ride with people you know • Always leave a “way out”

  9. Basic Types of Pacelines • Single- • Most efficient for small groups • Useful in any wind condition • Larger group may break into several single lines on narrow roads • Double Paceline • Use for larger groups on wider roads • A.k.a.: Conversational rotation, since you can easily talk to rider beside you when in the pack • Single / Echelon • Double Paceline

  10. Single Paceline How-To

  11. Single Paceline • When in front, aka “Pulling” • Stay as far on the UPWIND side as safely possible • I.e.: stay left if the wind is from left • Call road hazards • Riders behind can not see • Hold a steady speed • Watch the computer- it is easy to accelerate when you get to the front • Changing the speed by only a few mph can disrupt an entire group • Don’t stay on the front too long • Many new riders work too long on the front, and are soon dropped • Your line will suffer as you tire Wind

  12. Single Paceline • Ending your Pull • Loudly state that you are “out” • Accelerate 2 hard pedal strokes straight ahead • Just in case the rider behind has overlapped • Pull to the headwind side • Careful not to move into traffic or cross the yellow line • Gradually reduce speed and move back in line • Allow riders behind to maintain a straight line • Re-join the line after the last rider Wind

  13. Single Paceline • When in the back or middle • Hold your line • Riders behind may overlap your rear wheel • Watch the riders ahead • Don’t overlap wheels • Maintain a steady speed • Variations in speed cause a line to oscillate like a spring! • NEVER cross the yellow line • and most importantly…. • Recover and enjoy the tow! Wind

  14. Double Paceline How-To

  15. Double Paceline • When in front, aka “Pulling” • Same Rules apply: • Hold a steady speed • Don’t pull to exhaustion- even if pulling with a stronger rider • Call road hazards for those behind • Don’t “Half-Wheel” • Keep your front wheel even with your partner, don’t ride a “half wheel” ahead Wind

  16. Double Paceline • Ending your pull: • Both riders pull off together • No matter who calls “out” first • Both riders signal “out” • Accelerate 2 hard pedal strokes straight ahead • Pull to the outside of the lines • Gradually reduce speed and move back Note: the downwind rider must continue moving away, as the line trails downwind Wind

  17. Double Paceline • When in the back or middle • Hold your line • Riders behind may overlap your rear wheel • Watch the riders ahead • Don’t overlap wheels • Maintain a steady speed • Variations in speed cause a line to oscillate like a spring! • Leave room for other riders • The group can be 4 riders wide as riders move back • and, while recovering…. • Get to know those around you! Wind

  18. Paceline passing a rider or group • Overtaking another group • Call out WHAT & WHERE • Ensure you are heard • Mention that it is a group as you pass • Leave room between groups • Riders may be moving towards the back after a pull, or • Your paceline may be angled to the right • Don’t immediately cut back • Remember the riders behind you Passing on your left!

  19. Getting Started in a Paceline • Ride with an experienced group • Riders near your physical level • You can’t learn as well when “over your head” • Ask experienced riders for advice or critiques • If you are doing something wrong, most tell you immediately! • Practice with your training partners • Participate in an ExxonMobil On-The-Bike Safety Session • With riders moving faster and traveling closer together, • Think about what you are doing when in line

  20. Conclusion • Please remember the following: • Ensure you and your bike are ready for each ride • Ride in a safe and defensive manner • Stay hydrated • and, most of all, Be safe and enjoy the ride!

  21. References: • ExxonMobil Cycling Team Website: • http://www.emcycling.com • ExxonMobil Communications group: • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/emcycling/ • BP MS-150: • http://www.ms150.org/ms150/ Questions/comments: J. M. Wright, 281-834-0992

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